1 Now the LORDsaid to Samuel, "1Howlong will you grieveoverSaul, since 2I have rejected him from beingkingoverIsrael? 3Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to 4Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have 5selected a king for Myself among his sons."
2
But Samuelsaid, "How can I go? When Saulhears of it, he will kill me." And the LORDsaid, "6Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'
3
"You shall inviteJesse to the sacrifice, and 7I will show you what you shall do; and 8you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you."
4
So Samueldidwhat the LORDsaid, and came to 9Bethlehem. And the elders of the citycametrembling to meet him and said, "10Do you come in peace?"
5
He said, "In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. 11Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." He also consecratedJesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6
When they entered, he looked at 12Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD'Sanointed is before Him."
7
But the LORDsaid to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as mansees, for manlooks at the outwardappearance, 13but the LORDlooks at the heart."
8
Then Jessecalled14Abinadab and made him passbeforeSamuel. And he said, "The LORD has not chosenthisoneeither."
9
Next Jesse made 15Shammahpass by. And he said, "The LORD has not chosenthisoneeither."
10
Thus Jesse made seven of his sonspassbeforeSamuel. But Samuelsaid to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosenthese."
11
And Samuelsaid to Jesse, "Are these all the children?" And he said, "16There remainsyet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." Then Samuelsaid to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comeshere."
David Anointed
12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with 17beautifuleyes and a handsomeappearance. And the LORDsaid, "18Arise, anoint him; for this is he."
13
Then Samueltook the horn of oil and 19anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and 20the Spirit of the LORDcamemightily upon David from that dayforward. And Samuelarose and went to Ramah.
14
21Now the Spirit of the LORDdeparted from Saul, and 22an evilspirit from the LORDterrorized him.
15
Saul'sservants then said to him, "Beholdnow, an evilspirit from God is terrorizing you.
16
"Let our lordnowcommand your servants who are before you. Let them seek a man who is a skillfulplayer on the harp; and it shall come about when the evilspirit from God is on you, that 23he shall play the harp with his hand, and you will be well."
17
So Saulsaid to his servants, "Provide for me now a man who can playwell and bring him to me."
18
Then one of the youngmensaid, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillfulmusician, 24a mightyman of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsomeman; and 25the LORD is with him."
19
So Saulsentmessengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your sonDavidwho is with the flock."
20
Jesse26took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine and a younggoat, and sent them to Saul by David his son.
21
Then Davidcame to Saul and 27attended him; and Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer.
22
Saulsent to Jesse, saying, "Let Davidnowstandbefore me, for he has foundfavor in my sight."
23
So it came about whenever 28the evil spirit from Godcame to Saul, David would take the harp and play it with his hand; and Saul would be refreshed and be well, and the evilspirit would depart from him.